Richmond, BC, December 8, 2000--Raytheon Company has completed work on the Canadian Automated Air Traffic System, known as CAATS, signaled by successful site acceptance testing. Developed by the Richmond facility of Raytheon Systems Canada Ltd., CAATS sets a new global standard in advanced air traffic management (ATM) by providing air traffic controllers with a system that will help them meet the increasing demands of air traffic.

The site acceptance testing -- the last phase required for the completion of the contract with NAV CANADA -- achieved a pass rate of 99.9 percent and was completed a month ahead of the contract date. Raytheon conducted the tests at its facilities in Richmond, at the Technical Services Centre in Ottawa, and at the NAV CANADA Area Control Centre in Edmonton.

The CAATS system consolidates all radar, flight data, weather and other information on integrated, high-performance workstations, enabling controllers to handle increased traffic levels more safely and efficiently. Other unique features include graphically extrapolating flight positions for aircraft operating outside of radar coverage, graphic route modification, and flexible airspace management.

CAATS offers the controller the option of a paper-free environment and very advanced functions such as 4-dimensional conflict probe and clearance validation. It also automates flight data distribution between CAATS installations and external systems, aiming to reduce the need for voice communications between controllers and other agencies.

Lucinda Fleury, site executive/general manager of the Richmond facility, said, “We believe this to be one of the most successful series of factory and site acceptance tests ever conducted for a new, advanced air traffic management system anywhere.” Arthur Feist, CAATS program manager, added, “Considering the broad range of capabilities provided by CAATS, the high pass rate achieved during the site testing speaks for the quality of the system.”

CAATS will preside over Canada’s 5.8 million square miles of airspace and will interface with virtually every other system used by controllers. “The successful delivery of CAATS marks the beginning of a two-year implementation process which will result in NAV CANADA controllers across the country having the world’s most advanced flight data processing system at their fingertips,” said Sid Koslow, Vice President, Engineering, NAV CANADA.

The next step in the process will be to integrate the CAATS new radar display family that has already been so well accepted by NAV CANADA controllers into the CAATS product, Koslow said. This final software design process, involving NAV CANADA engineers and front line staff, should take 8 to 10 months.

The CAATS project is the largest among a host of high-technology initiatives that have put NAV CANADA in a global leadership position in air navigation technology. Many of these initiatives have resulted in advanced, electronic systems not available anywhere else, such as the new paperless air traffic control tower in Toronto. “Successful delivery of CAATS gives a real boost to our drive to be a world leader in safety, service, technology and efficiency,” Koslow said.

Raytheon is also developing the military elements of the system for the Department of National Defence under the Military Automated Air Traffic System program. It will provide a complete seamless integration of all civilian and military ATM systems for Canada.

Raytheon Systems Canada Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company. Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense electronics and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon has operations throughout the United States and serves customers in more than 70 countries.

NAV CANADA is the private, non-share capital corporation that owns and operates Canada’s civil air navigation service. With operations coast to coast and in international airspace assigned to Canada, the company provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, airport and enroute advisory service, and electronic aids to navigation.